Optimism high after first day of camp for Blue Bombers

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This article was published 31/05/2015 (3763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are certain guarantees in life – death, taxes, Keith Richards’ apparent immortality and the fact that on opening day of training camp all across the Canadian Football League the level of optimism is never higher.

And so it was no different for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 2015 edition, on the first day of their main camp Sunday outside the Winnipeg Soccer Complex after which the entire team ran to the sidelines to shake hands with the approximately 300 fans in attendance.

“I thought we had a very good day on the offensive side of the ball,” said Bomber quarterback Drew Willy. “During team periods I think I was 9-for-9 (passing). It was good just to get back out there. The O-line did a great job of giving me a clean pocket, guys were running the right routes and the ball was coming out. It’s fun to get out here with the guys. You can tell our defence is flying around and Coach Hall (defensive coordinator Richie Hall) has those guys working hard.

“There’s a lot of optimism for us this year and we’re just going to keep being positive and every day come out here and try to get better.”

The first day of Bombers main camp featured a handful of notable items, among them:

* Slotback Addison Richards, who looked so good during rookie camp, did not participate. Head coach Mike O’Shea said afterward that Richards, selected 11th overall in the 2015 CFL Draft, just needed a day off.

* Troy Stoudermire spent the first half of the almost four-hour practice taking reps on offence as a receiver, fielded some kicks during the special-teams period and then spent the last half of the session on defence. Stoudermire played on both sides of the ball at the University of Minnesota and is one of the best athletes on the Bomber roster.

“We’re just experimenting with some things,” said Stoudermire. “Coach O’Shea told me I was going to be going both ways this camp. I’m up to the task. Anything to help the team, I’m going to do it.”

* Chad Rempel, the veteran long-snapper who signed Saturday, was on the field. Ditto for defensive lineman Derrell Johnson, who missed rookie camp due to passport issues.

“He’s excellent at his craft, he’s a good snapper,” said O’Shea, “but even more than that he’s going to raise the level of that group and of all the special teams. He demands excellence and he just brings that attitude there in a good way. They’re having fun being excellent and striving for that.”

* Both Don Unamba and Chris Randle, listed at different positions on the depth chart than last year — Unamba at corner, Randle at outside linebacker – were taking reps at their new spots and old. Unamba started games near the end of last year as a linebacker and Randle was the team’s shut-down corner, but will be asked to be more versatile in Hall’s defence.

* The Bombers guest coaches at camp include: Robert Hunt (fullbacks and tight ends/worked with offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille in the UFL); Scott Brady (defence/special teams and is currently the defensive coordinator at Mount Allison University and long-time Toronto Argonaut kicker – and former O’Shea teammate — Noel Prefontaine is helping out with special teams.

The Bombers continue camp Monday and are on the field beside the Winnipeg Soccer Complex from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait